Colleagues told investigator lawyer might flee to Brazil
CBC News Posted: Aug 31, 2016 5:20 PM ET Last Updated: Aug 31, 2016 5:20 PM ET
A Rockland, Ont., lawyer is facing suspension at a law tribunal hearing for allegedly mishandling or spending up to $4 million held in trust for his clients.
Stéphane Langlois is facing a law tribunal hearing on Sept. 1, 2016. (Facebook)
Stéphane Langlois was reported to the tribunal by members of his law firm, including his accountant, according to a motion to be heard at a Law Society Tribunal in Toronto on Thursday morning.
Banking information shows that accounts that are supposed to be holding about $4 million in trust for his clients only have a balance of about $220,000, the motion details.
Langlois admitted to a tribunal investigator that he spent about $1 million of the funds for personal use and to cover general bills for his law firm, Charron Langlois LLP based in Rockland, the motion details.
His associates told a Law Society of Upper Canada investigator that they feared Langlois would flee to Brazil, according to the investigator's affidavit.
His associates are now forming a new firm, Charron, Pilon and Sauvé, and Charron Langlois will be dissolved, Radio-Canada has learned.
The motion goes on to say, in French, that the public's faith in the proper administration of justice is at risk if Langlois's licence to practice law is not suspended as the investigation into the missing funds continues.
Langlois practices real estate, commercial and family law, as well as civil litigation. His clients include the owner of DRS Construction, Gerry Dubé, who is embroiled in a legal battle with the Ottawa Hospital.
Dubé told CBC News that Langlois has a $350,000 lien on The Ottawa Hospital for alleged unpaid invoices to his company. The Ottawa Hospital is counter-suing, claiming that former directors and contractors, including DRS, conspired to defraud the institution.
